The
Clergymen and Worshipers of the Synodal Cathedral Welcome the Reliquary
of SS Elizaveta and Varvara

On April 12, the reliquary containing the relics of SS Elizaveta
and Varvara was brought to the Synodal Cathedral in New York. Ever
since the time of the ecclesiastical glorification of the Holy New
Martyrs and Confessors of Russia by the Russian Orthodox Church
Outside of Russia in 1981, the right hand of St Elizaveta was kept
in this church, under the administrative authority of the Russian
Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. On this day, the holy relics
returned to their home.

To mark this event, after Divine Liturgy on April 17, the Senior
Priest of the Synodal Cathedral, Protopriest Andrei Sommer, performed
a moleben before the reliquary, which was suffused with prayer while
traveling throughout all the corners of our suffering Fatherland
over the last year. In his sermon at the end of the service, Fr
Andrei remarked that the holy relics had traveled for some seven
months. During this time, the reliquary visited over 140 cities
in 61 dioceses of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate,
and some ten million people venerated the relics. The stream of
pilgrims did not cease day or night, many families with children
came. A great multitude of Russians were given consolation while
praying before this reliquary, and there were miracles that occurred
from the prayers of the Holy Women.

This historic even was the first joint effort of the Russian Orthodox
Church of the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church
Outside of Russia. The Fund of St Andrew the First-called gave this
trip its initiative.

Protopriest
Andrei Sommer leads the moleben before the reliquary of the saints.

The
reliquary containing the relics of the saints in the middle of the
cathedral.